Maine Public Health Association releases Touched by Tobacco videos

With support from the Maine Cancer Foundation, MPHA has just completed an educational video series titled Touched by Tobacco. These video’s are each around 1 minute in length and feature Maine legislators and others sharing their personal stories with tobacco. Below is a snippet from the attached press release. We hope our public and clinical health partners will join us to spreading the word about these videos through your social media platforms, email, and at your events- they are powerful and emphasize the dangers associated with addiction to a deadly substance.

A new video series has been released on public health websites and social media this morning, featuring State Senators Anne Haskell, Brian Langley and Stanley Gerzofsky; State Representatives Matthew Pouliot and Justin Chenette; Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, and former broadcast journalist Felicia Knight. Each tells a personal story of tobacco addiction and the tragic outcomes that have resulted. The “Touched by Tobacco” video series was produced by the Maine Public Health Association with funding from the Maine Cancer Foundation.

“These stories are poignant and often heartbreaking,” said Tina Pettingill, Executive Director of Maine Public Health Association. “Tobacco addiction comes at a huge cost for too many Maine families. By sharing their stories, these leaders are bringing viewers into their lives and helping us understand that tobacco is an equal opportunity killer. We hope these stories spark more discussions about what else we can do in our communities to help smokers quit and keep kids from starting to use tobacco products.”